What to do if a child hits his nose?


Symptoms

Children are not always injured in front of adults, so the development of some symptoms may indicate possible damage. Signs of a nose bruise include:

  • Severe pain at the site of impact.
  • The nose swells on the outside.
  • Difficulty breathing due to swelling of the mucous membrane.
  • The appearance of blood at the site of impact due to a violation of the integrity of the skin.
  • Bleeding from the nose.
  • Development of a hematoma in the place where the child hit himself.
  • Involuntary release of tears, which may last for several hours.
  • Blueness under the eyes and at the site of impact due to the fragility of the blood vessels.

If the blow was minor, all of the listed symptoms do not last long and disappear within a few days.

If a child hits his nose hard, there is a possibility of a fracture, so it is important to know its signs:

  • The bleeding does not stop for a long time.
  • Visually noticeable curvature of the nose.
  • Difficulty breathing through the nose.
  • Severe pain that intensifies with palpation in the place where the child hit.

Symptoms

The baby is not always injured in front of the mother’s eyes, the occurrence of certain symptoms will tell parents about possible damage, in addition, you just need to know what signs characterize a bruised nose:

  1. Severe and sharp pain at the site of impact.
  2. The appearance of swelling of the nose, from the outside.
  3. Bleeding due to damage to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages.
  4. Difficulty breathing, swelling of the mucous membranes.
  5. Tearfulness that may not stop for two hours or longer.
  6. The appearance of cyanosis at the site of injury. Also, possibly, under the eyes, as a result of the fragility of small vessels.
  7. Hematoma formation.

If the bruise is minor and there is no fracture, these symptoms disappear after three to four days.

Signs of a fracture

The child hit the bridge of his nose, what to do?

If your baby has a fracture, this condition will be accompanied by the following signs:

  1. Serious bleeding.
  2. The appearance of a hematoma around the nose and eyes.
  3. If there is an open fracture, there may be fragments protruding from the skin.
  4. A visual, noticeable change in the shape of a child’s nose.
  5. The baby has a hard time breathing.
  6. Severe pain that becomes more intense with palpation.

First aid

Immediately after the child hits, several measures should be taken:

  • It is necessary to sit and calm the baby, without making sudden movements.
  • If the nose bleeds, tilt the child's head forward (not back!) and ask him to breathe through his mouth. If there is no bleeding, tilt your head back - this will help ease the pain a little and prevent significant swelling.
  • It is necessary to apply cold to the bridge of the nose - any product from the freezer, wrapped in a towel, will do for this. Keep the compress for no more than 15 minutes, after which they take a break for 1 hour and apply it again.
  • If the bleeding is severe enough and does not stop, a turunda made of bandage or cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide is placed in the nose. It is left in the nose for 30 minutes, after which it is removed and checked to see if the bleeding has stopped.
  • If there is damage to the skin, the wound is treated with an antiseptic and, if necessary, sealed with a band-aid.
  • If, after a bruise, a child experiences severe pain, you can give him a painkiller, preferably based on Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

What is the danger?

A nasal contusion, like other types of craniofacial injuries, should be taken as seriously as possible. In particular, this damage, in the absence of timely and competent assistance, can provoke the development of the following very undesirable complications:

  • Deformation;
  • deviated septum;
  • Snore;
  • Respiratory dysfunction;
  • Traumatic brain injury;
  • Development of allergic reactions;
  • Sinusitis;
  • Purulent form of meningitis;
  • Rhinosinusitis;
  • Pain in the head;
  • Infection;
  • Abscess with suppuration.

In addition, a bruised nose can be extremely difficult to distinguish from a fracture. Therefore, if you suspect this injury, especially if a child’s nose is damaged, you should not self-medicate, but be sure to seek help from a qualified specialist!

How to help?

In case of injury, it is very important to promptly and competently provide first aid to the victim. Correct, prompt actions will not only alleviate the patient’s condition, but will also prevent the development of numerous complications, the formation of tumors, and extensive hematomas.

First of all, the victim should be provided with maximum peace. In case of injury in a small patient, you need to distract him and calm him down, since crying provokes the development of swelling. If the bruise is accompanied by bleeding, the victim’s head should be tilted forward slightly and cotton swabs pre-treated in hydrogen peroxide should be inserted into the nasal passages.

For nasal bruises without accompanying bleeding or after it has stopped, try to tilt the patient's head back to prevent swelling and reduce pain. Apply cold to the bridge of the nose, as well as the back of the head. This manipulation perfectly fights tumors and edema, relieves pain. In case of severe pain, offer the patient an anesthetic drug.

For nasal bruises, only analgesics can be used for pain relief, since non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can provoke severe bleeding

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Diagnostics

After a fall and bruise of the nose, it is necessary to assess the severity of the damage - only the nose was damaged or there are more severe injuries. For this purpose, the child is sent for an x-ray of the cranial bones and nasal bones. In addition, the specialist conducts an external examination and palpates the area of ​​impact. After the examination, the doctor makes prescriptions depending on the results.

Treatment

If the child does not have a fracture and has only minor injuries, the following recommendations are given:

  • Apply cold compresses to the bruised area for 15 minutes, with breaks for two hours.
  • Treat the wound regularly with antiseptic solutions.
  • To relieve swelling, it is recommended to apply heparin ointment or Troxevasin.
  • Acute pain is relieved with painkillers.
  • If the child has difficulty breathing and nasal congestion, vasoconstrictors are instilled, for example, Naphthyzin or Snoop.
  • After a few days, physical procedures can be prescribed - with their help they relieve swelling and pain, as well as normalize blood circulation and stimulate the healing process.

If the child feels weak, it is recommended to remain in bed until the condition improves.

Therapeutic measures

Treatment for a nasal bruise should be prescribed by a qualified specialist after preliminary diagnosis. Often such injuries are accompanied by concussion and other complications requiring professional medical attention.

If the damage to the nose is uncomplicated, treatment usually includes the following steps:

  1. Apply cold compresses and ice packs to the injured area and the back of the patient’s head. It is recommended to do such procedures three times a day, for several days from the moment of injury.
  2. The use of ointments characterized by the presence of absorbable and decongestant properties. Patients are often prescribed Troxevasin ointment, which does an excellent job of treating hematomas, swelling, bruising, and also has a strengthening effect on blood vessels. Good results can be obtained using Heparin ointment. For maximum therapeutic effect, it is recommended to apply the ointment to the damaged area, covering it with an antiseptic bandage. Such procedures should be carried out 2-3 times throughout the day.
  3. In case of disturbances and difficulties in respiratory function, the patient may be recommended to use vasoconstrictor drops. However, they can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, strictly observing the indicated dosage.

About rehabilitation

Rehabilitation after a nose bruise involves providing the victim with absolute rest. In the first few days after the injury, it is recommended to adhere to bed rest. After a couple of days, the patient may be recommended the following physiotherapeutic procedures:

  • Laser therapy;
  • Electrophoresis;
  • Magnetic therapy;
  • Warming up with a blue lamp.

The above methods activate blood flow, circulatory processes, regeneration, and successfully eliminate painful symptoms in the form of pain, bruising and swelling.

Folk recipes

Traditional medicine recipes can be used in case of a mild bruise or as an element of complex therapy. Rinsing the nasal passages with chamomile decoction has a good effect. Circles of raw potatoes placed on the bridge of the nose and the site of the bruise will help get rid of swelling and inflammatory manifestations. Such a compress, secured with a plaster, is best done before going to bed.

A compress of warm bean puree applied to the affected area has a good warming effect. The optimal exposure time is about 15 minutes.

A nose bruise is a traumatic injury that should be paid special attention to prevent undesirable consequences. Therapy should be prescribed by a doctor after mandatory diagnosis. For complete recovery, ointments, cold and warm compresses, and physiotherapeutic procedures are used.

You can injure your nose at any age. An accident can happen both at home and at work. A bruised nose is a fairly painful injury that can deprive you of peace for a long time.

Prevention

Of course, it is impossible to protect a child from injuries and blows in advance. Parents should know the rules of first aid and be able to provide it. Timely assistance will alleviate the child’s condition and prevent the development of serious complications.

Injuries to the nose, depending on the intensity of the blow, can be either minor or quite serious, up to a broken nose or concussion. For any injury, it is advisable to consult a specialist, since only he can adequately assess the severity of the damage.

Causes

A child can hit his nose under various circumstances. Depending on the source of damage, injuries are divided into several types:

  • Household.

They occur at home or in the yard, during games and active pastime. Preschool children are most susceptible to them. Most often, a bruise to the nose or bridge of the nose occurs due to a fall.

  • Sports.

Appear during contact sports.

  • Transport.

They arise as a result of a fall due to negligence during a sudden change in the movement of a vehicle or a strong blow with a blunt object during traffic accidents.

Children of one year of age, even with a strong fall, rarely suffer serious injuries to the nose, since the cartilages that form the nasal septum are covered with a layer of muscle tissue and have not yet ossified, which is why the risk of fracture is minimized. But, after 3 years, after the formation of bone tissue, the possibility of receiving more serious damage from a fall increases significantly.

Nasal bruises occupy first place among other injuries of the facial part of the skull in children. Moreover, the nature of the damage and the frequency of injuries depend on the age and gender of the child. As a rule, boys under the age of 7-12 years fall more often. When a bruise occurs, the soft tissue of the nasal concha is damaged, but no fracture or gross deformation occurs in the bone structure. The degree of damage depends on the force of the impact and its direction. Typically the injury manifests itself as follows:

  1. Swelling appears.
  2. The child experiences pain at the site of the blow (most often upon palpation).
  3. There is blood coming from the nose. Bleeding is usually not profuse and is capillary in nature. Occurs due to damage to the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. But, in some cases, it can be quite intense, depending on the nature and extent of the injury.
  4. Nasal breathing becomes difficult as a result of swelling at the site of injury.
  5. Subcutaneous hemorrhages form, which look like redness, bruising and hematomas. They are most noticeable around the nose and eyes.
  6. The child experiences strong emotional experiences, expressed by a violent reaction (crying, screaming or hysterics).

The listed symptoms are accompanied by severe bruises, as well as more serious injuries - nasal fractures, in which the integrity of the bone is broken and its component parts are subsequently separated.

A fracture is a more complex injury to the nose, unlike a bruise, requiring mandatory correction by a specialist. A distinctive feature of this condition is the occurrence of pathological mobility of the bone and its parts, the presence of a characteristic crunch and deformation of the nose (retraction of its back or side parts). Swelling during a fracture is more pronounced, and bleeding is more intense, which makes nasal breathing impossible.

The greatest danger comes from a fracture at the base of the anterior fossa of the skull, which damages the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone (lamina cribrosa), accompanied by liquorrhea - the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.

In this case, the infection may spread into the cranial cavity, which will lead to the development of meningitis or an abscess of the frontal lobe of the brain.

Depending on the nature of the damage, nasal fractures in children are divided into several types:

  • Frontal depression. Occurs most often in children. In this case, simultaneous destruction of both nasal bones and the septum occurs, which leads to a violation of the integrity of its structure. Sometimes with such a fracture the bones of the upper jaw are also damaged. This type of fracture results in severe deformation of the nose, making it very wide.
  • Lateral indentation. Appears due to a side impact.
  • Bias. As a result of such an injury, one of the bones is damaged, and the nasal septum loses its integrity. The nose becomes bent and takes on an irregular shape.
  • Incorrect fracture of comminuted type. A more complex type of nasal injury that causes multiple injuries to the midface.

Nasal fractures in children are dangerous not only by the possibility of cosmetic defects, which can contribute to the development of complexes as they grow older, but also by impaired sense of smell and breathing.

Violation of the olfactory function develops as a result of trauma to the olfactory filaments, which are damaged by displaced bone fragments, resulting in the formation of scars that compress the olfactory filaments.

If your child has been hit on the bridge of their nose, is experiencing severe pain in the area of ​​the impact, is bleeding from the nose, or has swelling, it is necessary to see a doctor to determine how serious the injury is.

In some cases, this requires an x-ray, since severe swelling does not allow one to notice the displacement of the bones and make a correct diagnosis. Therefore, bruises and nasal fractures in children are a mandatory reason to visit a doctor.

How dangerous are head impacts in young children?

When babies learn to walk, they stumble, fall, and bruises and bumps inevitably appear on their heads. Some of them pass without much hassle and care, while some can have serious consequences and threaten the child’s health.

How to understand how serious the injury is if a child gets a bump on his forehead or hits the back of his head and in what case an immediate consultation with a neurologist is necessary. Let's look at the options for head injuries.

When striking with the forehead

If after a child hits his forehead and a small bump appears, there is nothing to worry about. At the site of the injury, small vessels burst and the tissue around them fills with blood. This causes hematoma and swelling (swelling) of tissue.

Large bumps always appear on the forehead because there are many blood vessels in it. The frontal bone is quite strong, so such injuries most often end without consequences.

When hit with the back of the head

If a child falls on his back and hits the back of his head, this is a reason to panic and rush to the hospital. Such a blow could have dire consequences. With such an injury, it is better to consult a doctor immediately, because it is dangerous for the child.

It sometimes affects vision, because it is at the back of the head that the nerve endings responsible for its functioning are located. Even if an ordinary lump has grown behind, the baby may feel weak, tremble in the legs, or lose consciousness.

A doctor's consultation is required. There have been cases when the consequences of a bruise manifested themselves years later.

Diagnosis of a bruised nose in a child

For correct diagnosis and prescription of qualified treatment, the traumatologist performs the following actions:

  1. An external examination of the injured child is carried out to assess the clinical picture of the injury.
  2. If possible, an oral interview is carried out with the patient (or his parents, if the child cannot speak yet) to determine complaints and clarify the circumstances under which the injury was sustained.
  3. An x-ray of the facial bones is taken.
  4. If necessary, the child is referred for consultation to other specialists: ENT specialist, surgeon, ophthalmologist.

If a child falls and breaks his nose until it bleeds, it is also important to examine him for other injuries, since in some cases severe falls are accompanied by other injuries, such as a concussion.

Providing first aid to an injured child

It is quite difficult to keep track of a baby who is constantly running, climbing or climbing somewhere. Therefore, no one is immune from nasal injuries. No matter how the injury was received, it should not be ignored.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, 99% of falls in preschool children do not require mandatory medical hospitalization and have a favorable outcome for the child. To avoid possible unpleasant consequences for the baby, you need to “pull yourself together,” remain calm and cool, and provide him with first aid correctly. To do this, you need to sit him in the correct position. The best option: tilt your head forward. The child should breathe through his mouth. This will prevent blood from entering the nasopharynx.

Under no circumstances should you throw your head back! This may cause the child to choke on blood.

Then do the following:

  1. Stop the bleeding. To do this, you can press the wings of the nose to its septum with your fingers and hold them there for 10 minutes. Or use tampons soaked in hydrogen peroxide to stop the bleeding. This procedure allows you to stop bleeding and disinfect the wound.
  2. Apply a cold compress to the injury site. Often a hematoma or bruise appears there. For a compress, use ice, iron objects and other cold objects that are at hand. To prevent such a compress from being too cold, it is better to additionally wrap it in cloth. Hold for several minutes (no more than 10), then take a break for a minute.
  3. If there is an abrasion or wound at the site of the impact, gently wipe it with a sterile bandage swab or a cotton pad soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
  4. Calm the child. Due to fear and stress, he may become hysterical, which will only increase the bleeding and make the situation worse.

The following steps will help with bruises.

If after these manipulations the swelling increases and the bleeding does not stop, you should urgently seek specialized help, since the child’s injury is more serious and requires medical intervention.

You should not give painkillers without a doctor’s prescription, since temporary pain relief will prevent the correct diagnosis of the injury and the prescription of appropriate treatment.

Treatment of bruises and fractures of the nose should be carried out by a specialist.

As a rule, nasal bruises do not pose a potential danger to the child and do not require medical correction.

The period of complete healing of such an injury ranges from 10 to 14 days.

If a child receives a fracture as a result of a fall or a strong blow, he must be prescribed treatment, which includes several stages:

  1. Anesthesia. To do this, a cooling bandage is used, which is applied to the damaged area, and painkillers are prescribed.
  2. Restoring nasal breathing. For this purpose, vasoconstrictor drops are used.
  3. Preventing infection of damaged tissues. For this purpose, drugs of the antibacterial group are used.
  4. Restoring shape. A set of measures to reposition the nose, or restore its normal shape, is carried out in case of severe damage. This manipulation is very painful and unpleasant for a small patient, so it should only be performed by experienced specialists with appropriate qualifications.

An unpleasant but necessary procedure for straightening the nasal septum. Why is its curvature dangerous?

What should a mother do if her baby falls?

  1. Feel sorry for and calm the baby after a fall, and then examine him from all sides, starting from the head, for scratches, bruises, bleeding wounds on the forehead and the back of the head.
  2. Calm down yourself and evaluate whether the fall was really serious. If the baby slipped from the sofa onto the carpet and bumped, then he cries more from fear and gets off with a bruise. But if he fell out of the high stroller and hit his head on the asphalt, his mother should worry.
  3. The grown-up child is able to talk about what happened. You should ask him whether his head hurts or not, whether there is blurred vision. The pupils should not be constricted or dilated.
  4. Measure the pulse and compare the data with the age norm (in newborns it reaches 130-140 beats per minute, then becomes less frequent as they grow older). Deviations from the norm should alert you.
  5. Eliminate noisy entertainment and visual stress, but do not allow sleep. While sleeping, it will be more difficult to diagnose a concussion, if any.
  6. It must be borne in mind that if, after hitting a child, he does not cry for several minutes, then, most likely, he lost consciousness.
  7. Treat damaged skin. Small abrasions are disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, after which wound healing ointments are used. And if a child has a bump, then apply cooling compresses to it for 3 minutes to prevent swelling. In case of severe bleeding that could not be stopped within a quarter of an hour, as well as if the symptoms described above appear, you should call a doctor.
  8. Schedule a visit to the clinic soon. It is necessary to show a child who has hit his head to a pediatrician to assess his general condition, an ophthalmologist to rule out visual disturbances after a blow, and a neurosurgeon to receive a referral for a brain examination.

In case of strong blows, visible damage to the skull bones, or heavy bleeding, parents should not take any action. Call for help and urgently take the child by car to the emergency room.

If the blow is light, the baby gets up on his own, complains, cries, if he falls from his height, first aid is as follows:

  1. Raise a crying child.
  2. Place on a hard surface such as a bed or changing table.
  3. Examine the forehead, back of the head, and crown. Lightly touch the bump, head, back of the head, check the child’s reaction. You will have to determine the degree of danger of the wound yourself in the first minutes.
  4. Ask him how he feels. Pay attention to the expression of the eyes. If the child’s gaze is distracted, the child really wants to sleep, or faints, don’t delay calling an ambulance.
  5. Examine the limbs for dislocations and fractures. When infants fall, they often break their collarbone and dislocate their joints. In this case, you need to help him get up carefully, and it is better to wait for the ambulance to arrive.
  6. Treat the hematoma. If the lump is tall and hard, it means the damage is external; there is no need to panic. Apply a cold spoon, ice, or compress to the swelling. Cool the huge bruise on the forehead and the back of the head.
  7. Shallow scratches and abrasions should be anointed with hydrogen peroxide. If your baby falls on the asphalt while walking, wash the wounds. Iodine and green tea can be smeared on the wounds a little later or the next day.
  8. If there are deep wounds, stop the bleeding and call for medical help.
  9. When vomiting begins, place the baby on its side. Nausea will not go away soon if the baby has suffered a concussion.
  10. Provide your child with peace. But don’t let him sleep for several hours if he feels nauseous or has a severe headache. Let him just lie there.
  11. Give an antipyretic if there are no serious injuries. Nurofen and Ibuprofen will relieve pain.
  12. Monitor his condition more closely for several days. If your baby complains of a headache, vertigo (dizziness), nausea, or loses consciousness, go to see a doctor for additional examination.

Consequences and complications

The further prognosis for nasal injuries in young children depends on how timely and competent the treatment was. In the absence of adequate measures, complications are possible, including:

  • Deviation of the nasal septum;
  • Constant problems with nasal breathing, periodic nasal congestion;
  • Predisposition to chronic diseases, such as sinusitis, sinusitis or rhinitis;
  • Change in the natural shape of the nose, the appearance of a hump;
  • Development of the inflammatory process and infection of the nasal hematoma area. This condition is dangerous to the health and life of the child. Accompanied by fever, severe pain and a feeling of “fullness in the nose.”

Timely treatment allows you to avoid negative consequences and prevent improper healing of bones during a fracture, leading to deformation of the nose and impaired nasal breathing.

Despite the fact that injuries to the nose and face in young children, from one year of age and older, are not uncommon, they should be taken seriously, since any degree of injury can have a negative impact on the child’s health. If, upon impact, the child’s nose is swollen, blue, or complains of pain or dizziness, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor to receive timely treatment.

It is very difficult to avoid childhood injuries, especially during periods of increased child activity; parents should do everything possible to minimize the risk of injury. To do this, you should not leave the child alone unattended for a long time. If the baby falls and hits himself, there is no need to panic. Properly provided first aid most often allows you to quickly heal the injuries and helps the baby return to the normal rhythm of life without any consequences or health problems. If there are signs of a fracture, self-medication is unacceptable. By consulting a doctor as quickly as possible, you can avoid complications for the child’s health and prevent the appearance of cosmetic defects that will have a negative impact on the quality of the child’s future life. Attention to the health and safety of children is the best prevention of childhood injuries.

What is the correct action if a child has a nose bleed, including when hit?

When to seek medical help (call an ambulance)

How to identify cases requiring specialist intervention if a child breaks his nose until it bleeds. What should you do before the doctors arrive?

  • The bleeding appeared after hitting the head. Especially cases with episodes of loss of consciousness should not be missed. Lay the baby on his side. If bleeding takes a long time, pinch the soft part of the nose with a soft cloth on both sides. If you have cold packs on hand, you can use them. Apply a small cold container to your nose through 2 layers of fabric;
  • Bleeding occurred in a child with chronic blood diseases (thrombocytopenia, hemophilia);
  • If there are deviations in the child’s condition (does not respond to treatment, breathes quickly, is pale;
  • The blood does not stop or flows very profusely, quickly soaking the fabric;
  • If your child is bleeding from both the nose and mouth and is vomiting (the vomit may be dark brown in color).

The most important thing in a situation where a child breaks his nose until it bleeds is to decide what to do: figure it out yourself or call an ambulance. If the bleeding does not stop using the simple techniques listed above - do not try to insert gauze into the nose yourself, do not give the child any medications and do not use sprays or drops in the nose - call an ambulance to avoid complications.

Asked by: Elena, Tavda, Sverdlovsk region

Female gender

Age: 36

Chronic diseases: not specified

Hello, good afternoon. Our son is 11 months old. On February 14, the child hit the bridge of his nose, I can’t describe it exactly, I didn’t see it. My son didn’t cry much, there was no blood, swelling formed, the bridge of his nose was swollen, they immediately began to apply heparin ointment. After a few days, the swelling went away, but the lump remained, almost invisible visually, but felt when palpated; the child does not experience discomfort when plucked. We turned to an ENT specialist in our city, to which the ENT specialist said that there is swelling, wait and watch until the swelling goes away completely. We did an ultrasound of the bridge of the nose, where we were told that there was no fracture. It’s been a month now, but the lump is still there and the swelling is a little visible and it worries us a lot. Please tell me what we should do, where to go and who can a pomegranate doctor take a picture? Another question: we had a scratch on the bend of the nose at 4 months, then a small scar formed at this place, like a small dot, and a little liquid came out when pressed, I treated it with chlorophyllipt and applied Bactroban ointment because I thought it had festered and everything seemed to go away, but this point stayed and then recently I pressed a little and a little thick white substance squeezed out, so I processed everything again and everything seemed to go away. Tell me, could this be a fistula? I’ve read a lot on the Internet and now I’m panicking, what is this and where should we go with all these problems? We live in a small town and we don’t have competent specialists, so we want to come to another city (Tyumen or Yekaterinburg) for examination, but we don’t know where better. Please do not ignore our question, we are looking forward to your answer. Thank you in advance.

Causes

Damage to a child's nose is a very common situation, and blows are to blame. Fidgets under three years of age need close attention. Mistakes by adults often cause injuries to the nasal bones in children, which has an extremely adverse effect on their health and development. Kids can fall, carelessly open a door or closet, or play with objects that are not suitable for entertainment. Babies are active and energetic, their skeletal system is underdeveloped, so they often fall.

Older children injure their nose while playing sports. In winter, the number of cases of visiting traumatologists increases due to weather conditions and winter leisure activities. Skis, skates and ice skates are entertainment that often lead to bruises and broken noses. A common cause of perforation injuries is injuries caused by improper handling of sharp-edged objects. Damage to the mucous membrane causes severe bleeding, provokes an infectious process in the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses, and the formation of hematomas of the nasal septum. A cutting object can damage the cribriform plate in the upper nasal cavity and cause leakage of fluid that regulates the nutritional processes of the brain.

If a child hits his nose and gets a fracture, the result can be seen immediately: the baby’s breathing is difficult, he cannot smell, and the appearance of his face changes.

Why are head impacts dangerous in young children?

Babies are fidgety - they constantly jump and run, which means they fall. As a result of these “flights,” bumps, bruises, abrasions, etc. appear on the head. Some parents do not pay attention, believing that this is normal and nothing needs to be done. This is their main mistake. If your child hits his head but doesn't complain, you should still see a doctor. Signs of injury may not appear immediately, but may take some time.

Depending on the complexity and nature of the injury, a head injury can provoke:

  • epilepsy;
  • intracranial hematoma turning into a tumor;
  • encephalitis;
  • traumatic meningitis.

When a child falls head down, he hits his forehead or fontanelle, resulting in a lump. Small vessels are injured upon impact, and the tissue around them fills with blood. This is how swelling and hematoma form. Thanks to the strong bones of the skull, such injuries do not pose a threat to the baby’s life.

It happens that a newborn or older baby falls on his back. Such a fall can lead to injury to the back of the head. Such bruises often cause serious complications that pose a danger to the baby’s life.

Damage to the back of the head causes:

  • loss of consciousness;
  • concussions;
  • deformation of the skull with subsequent compression of the brain;
  • tissue bruise of the main organ of the central nervous system;
  • trembling legs.

When children fall, they can injure not only their head, but also their body (dislocate a leg or hit their neck). The possibility of spinal cord injury cannot be ruled out, which can lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system.

Bruised nose: symptoms and treatment methods

Signs of injury:

  • The occurrence of acute pain immediately after injury, which intensifies with pressure.
  • The appearance of swelling on the outer sides of the child’s nose.
  • Intense and prolonged bleeding due to a violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of the internal partitions of the nasal passages.
  • Complication of breathing as a result of swelling of the mucous membrane.
  • Tearing for several hours in a row.
  • Formation of a bruise in the area of ​​injury and around the eyes due to fragility of blood vessels.

All of the above symptoms persist for several days and gradually disappear. A bruised nose may be accompanied by a concussion. Fainting or dizziness after injury, intoxication, severe headache, and sometimes bruising in one of the eyes are symptoms of a concussion.

A bruised nose deforms the skin. It is necessary to determine that only the child’s nose is injured and there are no other injuries. To do this, the traumatologist will write out a referral for an x-ray of the bones of the skull and nose, examine the injury and check the damage by touch. Based on the results of the research, appropriate therapy will be prescribed.

First aid

  1. The child needs to be calmed and seated; active sudden movements are strictly prohibited.
  2. If there is a nosebleed, tilt the child's head forward and ask him to breathe through his mouth. If there is no bleeding, you need to tilt your head back, this will help reduce swelling and ease the pain a little.
  3. Wrap ice or any product from the freezer that is at hand in a cloth and apply the compress to the bridge of the nose and the back of the head for about a quarter of an hour. Afterwards you should take a break for 60 minutes.
  4. If the blood flow is very strong, it is necessary to make a turunda from cotton wool or a bandage, after moistening it in hydrogen peroxide. It is worth leaving the turunda in the nose for at least half an hour, after which the tampon should be changed to a fresh one until examined by a doctor.
  5. If there is external damage at the site of the bruise, wash it with peroxide and cover it with a bandage. You can apply a special disinfecting swab to the wound without additional treatment.
  6. In case of severe pain, the child needs to take a general pain reliever (baralgin, analgin or paracetamol).

Therapy

If there are no serious injuries, the doctor will recommend the following treatment:

  • Make ice compresses for a quarter of an hour with a break of two hours.
  • Use troxevasin or heparin ointment to relieve swelling and stop bleeding.
  • Treat the wound with antiseptic agents. If an inflammatory microbial process has begun in the damaged area, you will be prescribed an antibiotic ointment.
  • Use analgesics for acute pain.
  • Instill vasoconstrictor drops for swelling and difficult breathing (naphthyzin, sodium sulfacyl).
  • After a few days, the surgeon may prescribe physical procedures. They are designed to reduce swelling and pain, normalize blood circulation and restore respiratory function.

Blood can accumulate in the inside of the nasal passage, which is a positive factor for the proliferation of microbes and leads to inflammation. Signs of an infected hematoma are fever, intoxication, pain and a feeling of fullness in the nose. A puncture will help stop the inflammatory process.

In a weakened state and severe pain after injury, the patient needs bed rest.

Nose injuries: folk remedies

Please note that warming procedures cannot be carried out immediately after a nose bruise. At this time, only cold helps. Ice packs should be used for the first 2-3 days after the injury. To cope with the consequences of a bruised nose, you can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

  1. A decoction of buttercup flowers helps relieve pain. The bruised area must be rubbed 2 times a day. Do not put too much pressure on the injured area.
  2. Cabbage is suitable for relieving swelling and stopping inflammatory processes. The leaves need to be crushed first. After this, apply a cabbage leaf to the sore spot. To prevent it from falling off, secure it with a bandage.
  3. A compress of boiled beans is an ideal way to warm up a tumor. The whole procedure takes about 15 minutes. After this, the beans need to be washed off with water.
  4. Raw potatoes can prevent the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and relieve swelling. Potato compresses are best applied before bedtime. First, the root vegetables are grated on a fine grater.
  5. To relieve pain and prevent inflammation, you can use honey. Aloe leaves must be added to the mixture. A compress is applied to the bruised area. It needs to be changed 3 times a day. The method allows you to accelerate the healing of damaged tissues.
  6. Camphor alcohol has a warming effect. It is used to rub a bruise. The method prevents blood stagnation. There is an improvement in nutrition of the damaged area.
  7. To remove, use hot lotions. The bruised area can be warmed with heated sand or salt. It is advisable to carry out the procedures 3 times a day. Immediately after the treatment session you should not go outside.
  8. After an injury, the patient has blocked sinuses. The problem can be solved by washing. To do this, you need to prepare a weak decoction of chamomile flowers.

Nasal fracture: diagnosis and treatment

All of the above signs of a bruise are similar to the symptoms of a broken nose. Only with the help of medical hardware diagnostics can a correct diagnosis be established. An urgent visit to a traumatologist will help not only prevent the child’s suffering and restore the normal appearance of the face, but also avoid improper fusion of bones. Nasal asymmetry will require surgical intervention, so self-medication is strictly prohibited. Timely, qualified assistance may help restore the damaged area manually.

The otolaryngologist will perform an external examination, write out a referral for x-rays of the cartilage and bones of the face, and prescribe a procedure to study the inner surface of the nose from different angles (endoscopy). When establishing an accurate diagnosis, consultation with an ophthalmologist and neurologist may be required. You will also need to undergo a series of laboratory tests. An external examination will help establish the nature of the damage, note the degree of hematomas, swelling and curvature of the nasal septum. An x-ray will provide information about possible fractures of bones and cartilage. All of the above data will make it possible to prescribe the correct treatment.

If the diagnosis was made late or medical errors were made during diagnosis and treatment, the injured nose will succumb to asymmetry under the influence of a displacement of the nasal septum. This can ruin the appearance of the face, cause difficulty breathing and a sense of smell. In such a situation, restoration of the cartilage and bone location will be required with the help of plastic surgeons.

To prevent your child from hitting himself, it is extremely important to remove blunt objects from your child’s play area. For these purposes, door handles are tied or closed very tightly so that a fidget cannot open them on their own and get a bruised nose. Older children need to be explained how to communicate correctly with peers in order to avoid fights, during which the face most often suffers. Sports guys who attend judo, boxing, and karate sections need to be instructed on all sorts of safety rules.

Olga Kondratyuk

Briefly about everything

Only a surgeon or traumatologist can correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment for this injury. The most commonly affected areas when bruised are the nasal septum, bones and cartilage. Rarely, rupture of the wings of the organ and separation of its tip occur.

You can guess that a nose injury has occurred based on a number of signs characteristic of this injury. The main thing in this situation is to take the necessary measures to prevent the consequences. The more serious the damage, the more pronounced the signs of injury.

It must be remembered that the severity of the damage is influenced by several factors: age, impact power and the strength of the nasal septum.

The reasons that cause injury to the olfactory organ include: impact with a blunt object (this situation usually occurs when playing sports), a fall. The second reason applies most to children.

The signs of a simple bruise of the nose are similar to the symptoms that appear when it is fractured. But you still need to be able to distinguish them. Let's talk about this and much more in more detail.

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